SCOUTING THE MAPLE LEAFS: Toronto (8-11-3) entered Monday ranked 13th in the Eastern Conference after losing its last two. Shut out in two of their past four games, and by the Lightning's Dan Ellis on Nov. 9 in Tampa, the Maple Leafs have managed only 48 goals. ... Toronto does have a three-game winning streak at home and is 6-for-12 on the power play during that span. ... G Jean-Sebastien Giguere, out since Nov. 16 with a groin injury, practiced Monday and could be available.

NEED TO KNOW: The Lightning (13-8-3) begin their last big push in a brutal stretch of road games. Five of their next six are on the road, including a three-game trip next week to Western Canada. ... C Steven Stamkos, who returns to his hometown (he was born in nearby Markham, Ontario), has only one point in his past two games and lost his NHL scoring lead to Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby over the weekend. ... Tampa Bay has a regulation loss and a shootout loss since winning five in a row from Nov. 17-24. ... Ellis, who has a career 0.54 goals-against average against the Leafs, gets the start in net. ... Gagne will skate this morning, and there's a chance he could play for the first time since Oct. 21, although Thursday's game at Boston sounded more likely.